Williams make objection to Schumacher’s testing
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER has been blocked in his bid to test Ferrari’s car – by a disapproving Williams team.
Ferrari last week wrote to governing body the FIA and their nine rival teams, requesting special permission for Schumacher to familiarise himself with the current F60 model ahead of the European Grand Prix, where he is standing in for the injured Felipe Massa.
Although this is banned under current legislation, the other seven members of the Formula One Teams’ Association all gave Schumacher and Ferrari the go-ahead.
But Williams have put their foot down, however, insisting the 40-year-old should not be given special dispensation, especially given the recent arrival of 19-year-old rookie Jaime Alguersuari at Toro Rosso.
A team statement said: “While we welcome Michael Schumacher back to Formula One, the fact is any form of in-season circuit testing is strictly prohibited, a regulation clearly laid out by the FIA and adhered to by all of the teams.
“It was for this reason Alguersuari, who drove an F1 car for the first time in Hungary, did not have the opportunity to familiarise himself with the Toro Rosso. Williams sees no distinction between Alguersuari’s situation and Schumacher’s and feels any deviation from the rule would create a precedent for the future.”